Field Operations Production Planning Manager

This is a Full Time Job

Job Description

The Opportunity

Versant Media is seeking a Production Planning Manager to support Field Operations and the successful execution of domestic and international remote productions. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Field Tech & Production – Field Operations, this role will lead production planning, budgeting, logistics, vendor coordination, and operational execution across live news, special programming, and other field productions.

The Production Planning Manager will partner closely with editorial, production, finance, security, legal, risk management, rights and clearances, and external vendors to ensure productions are delivered safely, efficiently, on schedule, and within budget. This position will manage multiple productions simultaneously across development, pre-production, production, and post-production and will provide hands-on support for breaking news and other time-sensitive assignments.

Why This Role Matters: This role is central to transforming editorial and production plans into executable field operations. By bringing together crews, vendors, equipment, travel, budgets, contracts, and production schedules, the Production Planning Manager helps ensure Versant teams can respond quickly and deliver high-quality productions wherever the story or event takes them.

This is a fully on-site position based in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, five days per week. The role requires flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and off-hours and to travel domestically and internationally, including on short notice, as production needs require.

Qualifications

What You'll Do
• Lead the planning and execution of multiple domestic and international remote productions, coordinating crews, vendors, venues, equipment, transportation, travel, technology infrastructure, and other production logistics from pre-production through post-production.
• Source and engage reputable union and non-union production crews, suppliers, facilitators, locations, charters, and other resources while helping ensure productions meet applicable labor, legal, compliance, and operational requirements.
• Partner with editorial and production teams to develop production plans, budgets, and cost comparisons; track forecasts and actual expenditures; manage overtime and travel costs; and reconcile final production costs with Finance and network stakeholders.
• Build and manage detailed production schedules covering load-ins, vendor deliveries, production builds, access windows, rehearsals, and live production activity, proactively communicating progress, changes, and risks throughout each assignment.
• Coordinate with Versant Security, Legal, Risk Management, Rights and Clearances, and other internal partners on contracts, insurance documentation, location and charter agreements, visa applications, carnets, certificates of insurance, and rights-related requirements.
• Manage critical production operations and administrative workflows, including vendor negotiations, equipment rentals, vendor setup, invoice processing, payment tracking, SAP account updates, tax-exemption documentation, and post-production reconciliation.

What You Bring
• At least 5 years of experience supporting remote production operations, including facilities, crew scheduling, travel logistics, guest arrangements, vendors, and production planning.
• At least 5 years of experience working in live news, field production, or a similarly fast-paced production environment where priorities can change quickly.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple productions, budgets, schedules, vendors, and operational workstreams simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong financial and administrative capabilities, including experience with production budgeting, forecasting, cost tracking, invoice management, and reconciliation. Experience with SAP is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with strong organizational, communication, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with news feature and spot-news production techniques, remote production equipment, production vendors, and domestic or international field operations is a plus.
• Ability to communicate clear, actionable direction to crews, vendors, partners, and stakeholders and build productive working relationships across teams.
• Trust: Operate with integrity and sound judgment when managing budgets, vendors, contracts, sensitive production information, and operational decisions.
• Teamwork: Collaborate effectively with editorial, production, finance, legal, security, risk management, technical teams, vendors, and field crews to deliver shared outcomes.
• Transparency: Communicate production status, costs, risks, schedule changes, and operational needs clearly and proactively.
• Agility: Remain effective when priorities shift, breaking news develops, or production requirements change with limited notice.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Take initiative, identify practical solutions, and creatively leverage internal and external resources to move productions forward.
• Demonstrate accountability for production plans, deadlines, budgets, vendor commitments, and execution from initial planning through final reconciliation.
• Must be able to work weekends, holidays, and off-hours and travel domestically and internationally on short notice as business needs require.
• Must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States and be able to satisfy applicable pre-employment requirements, including a background investigation and drug screening.